Feeding device for sewing machines



1941- R. w. WINBERG FEEDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 10', 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l v ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1941. R, w, WI'NBERG 2,253,993

FEEDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN OR ATTORNEYS WITNESS Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEEDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Ragnar W. Winberg, New York, N. \Y. Application July. 10, 1939, SerialNo. 283,655

2 Claims. (01. 112-203) The invention relates to a feeding device for sewing machines and has for an object to provide a device of this character which may be attached to a conventional sewing machine and enableit to do the work of a special sewing machine during various binding, folding, piping, welting and other operations.

A conventional method of binding, folding, etc., is to fasten the folding or binding attachment to the base of the machine and let the feeder or feeders pull out or feed the work. The feed action overpowers the drag or pull created by the folding or binding attachments.

Special sewing machines are necessary for heavy work especially when folding or binding attachments are used. A folding or binding attachment will create a heavy pull or drag on the machine and as a rule the conventional sewing machine cannot feed or overcome this pull. In other words, if the work to be stitched is held back too much, the feeder will slip and will not give .space to the next stitch. Special machines are much stronger in their feeding action. There are special machines that have top and bottom feeds where the needle pierces the material and follows along with the top and bottom feeder giving a positive pull to the material to be stitched.

With the above in mind, the present invention provides an attachment for a conventional sewing machine adapted to enable it to do the work of a special machine without alterations to the conventional machine, and to accomplish this, essentially the invention provides a folding or binding attachment which rides back and forth with the conventional feeder at about the same speed, and the same distance, in other words, the attachment and the material in the attachment follow with the feeder on the feeding or pulling stroke. A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a feeding attachment for sewing machines, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the feeding device, drawn tolarge scale, and looking toward the right of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail cross sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 showing the eccentric drive from the fly-wheel.

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of Figure 1, showing a folder attached to a power driven slide adapted to ride back and forthwith the feeder at about the same speed and distance.

. Figure 5 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the push rod,-slide, and attaching plate of the folder as well as the crank for reciprocating thepush rod.

Figure 6 is a detail crosssectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1 Showing thelower portion of the eccentric.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the feeding device comprises a .base plate l0 adapted to be supported transversely upon the bed ll of a conventional sewing machine and to-be secured thereto through the medium of downwardly extending lugs I2 and I3 adapted to respectively engage the front and back longitudinal edges of the sewing machine bed. Screws l4 are engaged through the base plate and advanced into the sewing machine bed II to positively anchor the base plate against slipping. The base plate is disposed rearwardly of the head l5 of the sewing machine as best shown in Figure 1.

A pair of parallel guide strips I6 are mounted on the base plate l0 through the medium of screws H. A slide l8, best shown in Figures 1 and 4, is mounted between the guides and is held against dislodgement vertically from the guides through the medium of beveled inner edges l9 formed on the guides engaging respective beveled edges 20 formed on the slide as best shown in Figure 4.

A conventional folder 2|, is shown attached to the slide, in the present embodiment of the invention the folder being provided with a lateral attaching plate 22 which is secured by screws 23 to the slide I8. The folder is disposed toward the front of the sewing machine bed in alignment with the needle carrying member 24 so that the material will be folded upon itself prior to encountering the needle.

For actuating the slide, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, a shaft 25 is disposed longitudinally of the sewing machine bed near the rear longitudinal edge thereof and is rotatably mounted in bearings 26 which are secured to the machine bed through the medium of screws 21.

A crank arm 28 is secured to the front end of the shaft 25. The crank arm is provided with a rounded notch 29, best shown in Figure 5, into which the rounded rear end of a link or push rod 30 enters. The rounded front end of the push rod is received in a rounded notch 3| formed in the rear face of an upstanding lug 32, which is secured to the slide I8 through the medium of a counter-sunk screw l9, best shown in Figure 5, passed upwardly through the slide and through the lug, and a pin 33 is passed through the slide above the lug 32 and at the opposite end is secured to a screw 35 which is advanced into the crank arm 28. This spring detachablyholds the push rod 30 in operative position.

As best shown in Figure 2 the opposite end-of the shaft 25 is equipped with acrank arm 36. A pitman 3] is attached to the outer end of the crank arm through the medium of a resilient spring 38 which is fitted at one end in a kerf 39 in the lower end of the pitman and is secured at the opposite end. to the crank arm through the medium of a cap 40 and screw 4| as best, shown in Figure 6.

The pitman is provided with a strap eye 42 at the upper end, best shown in Figure 3, which is sleeved uponan eccentric. 43 having a knurled head 44 and which is secured to. the end wall 45 of a cup 46 through the medium of a screw 41. An additional threaded opening 48 is formed in the end wall of the cup to interchangeably re-. c'eive the screw to vary the throw of the pitman. Rotation of the eccentric 43 varies the timing of the eccentric. The cup 46 is secured to a stub shaft 49 which projects from thedriven shaft of the sewing machine, exteriorly of the flywheel 50, through the medium of a set'screw In operation the slide I8 will be reciprocated by the above described motion transmission mechanism to reciprocate the folder 2|. The eccentric is so adjusted that the folder and the ma terial being folded in the folder will follow the feeder of the sewing machine on the feeding or pulling stroke. This leaves no work for the feeder to do in addition to its conventional feeding operation. Of course, the drag or pull of the material in the attachment is still there and must be overcome. This is accomplished in this manner. When the feeder, the folder 2| and the material therein, are at the end of the stroke the conventional presser foot, which is under spring tension, presses the material between itself and the base or bed plate of the sewing machine and holds it stationary while the feeder travels back underneath the plate. At the same time, the folder 2| travels back, by power imparted by the motion transmission mechanism, above described,

leaving a space of material folded ready for the next stroke or stitch. Meanwhile the needle has pierced the work and assists in holding the material from slipping back when the folder 2| is traveling back.

1 From the above description it is thought that theconstructijon and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation., Whatv is claimed is:

1'. In a sewing machine, a bed. a rock shaft extending longitudinally of the bed, a slide mounted to reciprocate on the bed, a crank arm on the shaft,'.a.lug on the slide, a push rod detachably connected to the crank arm and to the lug for reciprocating the slide, a helical spring connected to thecrank arm and to the lug for holding the push rod in engagement withthe crank arm and with the lug, a driving shaft, an eccentric adaptedforconnection with the driving shaft, a pitman device connected to the eccentric and to the crank armto rock the rock shaft, and a folder secured to the slide.

2. vIn a sewing machine, a bed, a driving shaft,

an eccentric adapted for connection to the driving 4 said slide to fold the work.

RAGNAR W. WINBERG. 

